CBS News - Congress to vote on short-term spending bill to avert government shutdown before holidays
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are working against a Friday midnight deadline to pass a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. The bill must be approved by both the House and Senate. Key issues include disagreements between Democrats and Republicans on spending levels, particularly concerning the reauthorization of the 2018 Farm Bill and hurricane relief funding. The Biden administration's request for disaster relief funding is a contentious point, with Republicans questioning the proposed $100 billion allocation. Speaker Mike Johnson aims to extend the deadline to March, but the text of the stopgap measure has not yet been released. The urgency is heightened by the need for disaster relief in hurricane-affected areas, with some states still awaiting critical funds.
Key Points:
- Lawmakers face a Friday deadline to pass a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.
- Disagreements exist on spending levels, particularly for the 2018 Farm Bill and hurricane relief.
- The Biden administration requested $100 billion for disaster relief, which Republicans find insufficient.
- Speaker Mike Johnson wants to extend the deadline to March, but the stopgap measure text is pending.
- Urgency is driven by the need for disaster relief in hurricane-affected states.